December 2018 E-Newsletter

By Randa Griffin

FAA has awarded the Nan Cavarretta Memorial Scholarship to Brianne Kocher of North Central Florida Apartment Association and Beth Lakin of First Coast Apartment Association, to enable them to participate in the 2019 FAA Leadership Lyceum program. 

FAA’s Leadership Lyceum program, established in 2009, is designed to educate and develop future leaders in local, state, and national apartment associations. The Nan Cavarretta Memorial Scholarship covers registration fees and travel expenses associated with the program. 

Kocher is a property manager at the Mayfair Luxury Apartments in Gainesville. Along with managing her team and maintaining the community, she spends a lot of time handling resident relations and building a personal connection with prospects and residents. 

“I came from a position in a corporate office and didn’t realize how much I had missed the interactions on a day-to-day basis with the people we were encouraging to call our communities home,” Kocher said.

In 2000, Kocher was a recent college graduate pursuing a career in hospitality when she stumbled upon a position in the apartment industry. After talking with the assistant manager at the community where she was living, Kocher was offered a leasing position. She said aside from her family, joining the apartment industry is the best life decision she’s ever made.

“I had no clue where this would take me but I fell in love and couldn’t leave,” Kocher said. “Almost 19 years later — I still love it.”

Kocher is actively involved with NCFAA and serves as treasurer and co-chair of the Young Professionals Committee. She hopes Leadership Lyceum will equip her with the knowledge and tools to continue building the association when she becomes vice president in 2019. Kocher said the part of lyceum she’s looking forward to the most is the FAA Legislative Conference, because she knows the impact the association’s influence can have on the industry.

“I never want to stop learning about this industry,” she said.

Lakin’s journey into the apartment industry began similarly. After Lakin and her fiance toured a community in Jacksonville, the property manager offered Lakin a position as a leasing consultant.

“My career just basically took off from there,” Lakin said. “It was really rapid for me.”

Now Lakin works as property manager at The Loree Apartments and said she truly loves the community.

“It does have its challenges, but they’re fun challenges and it reminds me of why I do this,” she said. “It’s everything I was looking for.”

Larkin’s time serving on the FCAA board has connected her with numerous industry mentors who have shown her the importance of being involved at the local and state level.

“I saw how that involvement made me a better manager and it made my team better,” she said. 

Always looking to build on her career and management ability, Lakin said the Leadership Lyceum program seemed like the next natural step. Unable to contain her excitement about the program, Lakin was the first to apply for the Cavarretta scholarship and alerted everyone within shouting distance when she found out she was chosen as a recipient.

“Honestly I got goosebumps and did a little happy dance at my desk,” she said.

Although she lives life moment by moment, Lakin has big aspirations for her future. She hopes to be a regional manager and become more active at the state and national level, all while maintaining a healthy balance between her family and career.

FAA Announces New Emerging Leaders Scholarship Program

The FAA Executive Committee and the FAA Board of Directors have established a new Emerging Leaders Scholarship which will commence in 2019. The scholarship will be awarded to one recipient to financially assist in attending the NAA Advocate Conference in Washington, D.C.The scholarship provides up to $1,500 in reimbursements of airfare and hotel expenses.

The Emerging Leaders Scholarship will be funded by a dedicated line item in the FAA budget and subject to the annual profitability of the association. The recipient will be selected by the FAA Past Presidents Council from all qualified applicants who submit an application by the deadline.

Applicants must submit an essay of 100-200 words, explaining how they have actively participated in a local affiliate, FAA, and/or NAA; their status as an FAA Leadership Lyceum student or graduate; and how they think the opportunity would benefit them as multifamily professionals. 

Applications are due by February 5, 2019, and can be found here. If you have any questions, email communications@faahq.org or call FAA headquarters at 407-960-2910.

 

 

 

 

FAA Research Report Offers Insight into Multifamily Wages in Florida

Twenty-eight companies representing 733 properties and 182,602 units took part in a 2018 study of compensation and benefits currently being paid to multifamily management and maintenance professionals across Florida. The survey sample represents 29 percent of Florida’s apartment industry.

 

The statewide 2018 Florida Apartment Association Compensation & Benefits Report was provided to the 28 participating companies at no cost. The statewide report and the 10 regional reports are available for $250 for members and $350 for nonmembers. Discounts on the regional reports are available to participating companies; all companies receive discounts on purchases of more than one report. To learn more, visit faahq.org/research.

 

 

 

 

 

Did You Miss Something?

If you missed any issues of Florida APTitudes or Multifamily Florida, visit our website at faahq.org/news/e-newsletter or faahq.org/news/magazine.

After you catch up on back issues, tell FAA what you think by taking a brief survey. Respondents who provide contact information will be entered into a drawing for a $100 Visa gift card.  

If you missed the fall issue of Multifamily Florida, you may also view the entire digital version here. 

If you did not receive an e-newsletter or a print magazine and would like to in the future, please view your profile on our website and update your email and mailing addresses if needed. Read more about how to create a login and update your profile. 

 

 

 

 

NAA/NMHC Release Joint Statement on EPA WOTUS Ruling

NAA/NMHC applaud the recent guidance issued by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) limiting the Obama administration’s expansive definition of “Waters of the United States” (WOTUS). This reasonable reform will remove significant barriers to the operation and development of apartment communities.

"We at NAA/NMHC applaud the EPA and Acting Administrator Wheeler on this common-sense change. We are encouraged about what the new interpretation of WOTUS will mean for the multifamily housing development industry, owners, operators, property managers, and residents. Our research shows that America needs 4.6 million new units of apartment housing by 2030 just to keep up with rising demand. That does not take into account the 11 million apartment units that will reach the end of their useful lives by that time. This new interpretation will assist the industry in reaching that goal by removing costly administrative barriers and helping ease the crisis of affordability that is growing in many American cities.
 
“NAA/NMHC support strong protection for the nation’s critical water resources and believe that the proposed rule will provide much needed clarification regarding the scope of federal control over land use decisions.”  

By narrowing the definition of WOTUS to exclude “ephemeral streams” and tributaries, EPA and the Corps have struck a blow against overly broad federal regulations that result in costly delays due to an overburdened permitting process for the construction of desperately needed new apartment housing.

Apartments have become a more popular option among a diverse cross-section of American society, from Baby Boomers looking to downsize to Millennials in urban areas eager to join the bustling knowledge economy. This action will be helpful in ensuring that a thriving and diverse supply of housing exists to meet those needs.

This action reverses the interpretation embraced by the EPA under the Obama Administration, placing limitations on the types of waterways subject to regulation. This will reduce the regulatory and cost burden on developers of new multifamily housing projects, translating into more supply and better results for residents. 
 

 

 

 

 

Registration Open for NAA Educational Events

Registration is now open for several 2019 NAA events. 

CampusConnex will be February 18-19 at Omni Orlando Resort at Championsgate. Learn more at naahq.org/campusconnex.

Advocate will be March 5-6 at the Grand Hyatt in Washington, D.C. FAA and sponsor RentPath are hosting a Florida delegation dinner on Tuesday, March 5. For details about the dinner, please see What's New in the FAA section of this issue. For more about Advocate, visit naahq.org/advocate.

Apartmentalize will be June 26-28 at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver. Discounted registrations are available from FAA; for details, please see What's New in the FAA section of this issue. For more about Apartmentalize, visit naahq.org/apartmentalize.

For information about these and other upcoming NAA events, visit naahq.org/meetings-events/upcoming-meetings.

 

 

 

 

Suppliers, Prepare for Liftoff: 2019 Florida Apartment Association Annual Conference & Trade Show

Plan now for the 2019 Florida Apartment Association Annual Conference & Trade Show — Beyond Orbit: Infinity Possibilities, October 2-4 at Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek. Relive the 2018 event, and then download the 2019 FAA Prospectus. The prospectus describes sponsorship opportunities for the 2019 FAA Annual Conference & Trade Show and beyond, and provides details for companies that wish to exhibit. 

 

The prospectus includes important dates to note: 

 

February 8: Platinum/gold/silver sponsorship signed commitments are due.
February 15: Platinum sponsors lottery; meeting to select opportunities/booths

February 22: Gold sponsors lottery; meeting to select opportunities/booths
March 1: Silver sponsors lottery; meeting to select opportunities/booths

March 15: Exhibit space selections begin for all 2018 exhibitors.

March 22: Exhibit space selections begin for all other suppliers. 

 

For details, download the prospectus at faahq.org/prospectus. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Upcoming Product/Service Council Membership Meeting 

Product/Service Council Membership Meeting 

The next meeting of the FAA Product/Service Council will take place Monday, February 4, 2019, 
5 – 6 p.m. at the Hotel Duval, 415 N. Monroe St., Tallahassee, FL 32301, in the Opal Ballroom (lower lobby level of the hotel).

 

 

 

 

 

Stand Out With an Enhanced Business Listing

A more robust and comprehensive supplier directory has replaced the old PSC Buyer's Guide, which in many cases only included one company under a specific category. In the new digital directory, every supplier member will be offered a basic listing with contact information and will have the opportunity to purchase an enhanced listing for $250. The enhanced listing will include premium placement, a company description, contact information, a link to your website, and social media feeds.

Check out the new FAA Supplier Directory, a valuable resource for apartment communities and management companies seeking products and services.

To stand out with an enhanced business listing in FAA's supplier directory, purchase yours today.

 

 

 

 

Reach More Prospects With Year-Round Sponsorship Opportunities

FAA offers opportunities to reach prospects at events throughout the year. 

• FAA Legislative Conference Reception and Briefing, February 4
• FAA Board of Directors Meetings, February 5 and May 23
• Leadership Lyceum Luncheons or Dinners, February 4, May 22, and August 22

Visit faahq.org/sponsorships for more information or email ralph@faahq.org.